AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS vs Intel Core i7-1195G7 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 records an average benchmark score of 2638, while the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS records 2573. Both land at the 49th percentile among all CPUs in the database, though the Intel part holds a 2.5% edge in the aggregate average.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS dominates multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1863 versus Intel's 887, a 52.4% lead. In Geekbench multicore, AMD scores 6926 versus Intel's 4248, a 38.7% advantage.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 wins the Geekbench single-core test with 1584 versus AMD's 1311, a 20.8% advantage. However, in Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD posts 193 versus Intel's 125, a 35.2% lead for AMD.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. This 2x core and thread count difference largely explains the multi-core benchmark gap.

Q: What are the process nodes and foundries for these processors?

A: Intel uses its own 10 nm process with a 144 mm² die size, while AMD uses TSMC's 7 nm process with a 156 mm² die. AMD's chip contains 9,800 million transistors, whereas Intel's transistor count is not recorded.

Q: What integrated graphics do the two chips feature?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 integrates Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS integrates Radeon Graphics with 512 shader processors.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear division of roles. The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS is the definitive choice for multi-threaded workloads. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration delivers crushing leads in both recorded multi-core tests, with a 52.4% advantage in Cinebench R15 and a 38.7% advantage in Geekbench. For users running heavily parallel tasks, video encoding, compilation, or rendering, the 4900HS is the obvious selection from this comparison.

The Intel Core i7-1195G7 takes the single-core crown in Geekbench, posting a 20.8% higher score (1584 versus 1311). This matters for lightly threaded applications, responsive single-threaded tasks, and scenarios where per-core performance is the bottleneck. However, the Intel chip loses the other single-core test in the database, Cinebench R15, where AMD leads by 35.2%. The single-core story is therefore inconsistent: Intel wins one test, AMD wins the other, and the margins are substantial in both directions.

The averages are telling. Intel's average benchmark score is 2638, AMD's is 2573, a difference of only 2.5%. Both CPUs sit at the 49th percentile, meaning neither is an outlier in the broader database. The nearest rivals for Intel include the Core i9-8950HK and Core i7-5820K, both within 0.1% of its average. For AMD, the nearest rival is the Xeon E5-4620 v3 at 0.6% lower, followed by the Ryzen 7 4800HS at 0.6% higher. This suggests both chips are near the middle of the pack in aggregate performance, despite their divergent individual test results.

The verdict for the Intel chip: choose it if the workload is predominantly single-core and the specific test suite favors its architecture. The Geekbench single-core win is real and significant. The verdict for the AMD chip: choose it for any multi-core heavy usage, where its leads are overwhelming and consistent across both available multi-core tests. The Intel part does carry a launch MSRP of $426, while AMD's is not listed, but the decision should rest on workload profile rather than any cost metric.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data records four tests, and AMD wins three of them. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 multicore. AMD scores 1863, Intel scores 887, a 52.4% gap. This is not a close race; the AMD chip more than doubles Intel's output in this test. The 8-core versus 4-core split is the obvious driver, but the magnitude still matters: a 52.4% lead is decisive for any parallel workload.

Geekbench multicore shows a similar pattern. AMD scores 6926, Intel scores 4248, a 38.7% delta. This is another emphatic win for AMD, though the percentage gap is smaller than in Cinebench R15. The absolute difference of 2678 points is substantial and indicates that AMD's multi-core advantage holds across different benchmark methodologies.

Cinebench R15 single-core is the surprise of the set. AMD wins with 193 versus Intel's 125, a 35.2% lead. This contradicts the Geekbench single-core result and suggests that the two processors respond very differently to the specific instructions and load patterns in each test. The Intel chip's boost clock of 5.00 GHz is higher than AMD's 4.30 GHz, yet it loses this particular single-core test by a wide margin. The database shows this as a clean win for AMD, and the margin is too large to dismiss as noise.

The only Intel win comes in Geekbench single-core. Intel scores 1584, AMD scores 1311, a 20.8% advantage for Intel. This is a solid win, but it is the smallest margin in the head-to-head set, and it is offset by AMD's larger win in the other single-core test. The Intel chip wins exactly one of four recorded comparisons.

The win tally is AMD 3, Intel 1. The average delta across all tests favors AMD in cumulative terms, but the aggregate benchmark scores (2638 versus 2573) favor Intel by a small margin. This occurs because the average benchmark score is computed differently from the head-to-head deltas, likely weighting each test equally on a different scale. The takeaway from the head-to-head is that AMD's wins are larger in absolute percentage terms where it wins, and Intel's single win is a narrow 20.8% in one test.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. Intel has 4 cores and 8 threads; AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel's base clock is 2.90 GHz, AMD's is 3.00 GHz. Intel's boost clock is 5.00 GHz, AMD's is 4.30 GHz. Intel's TDP is 28 watts, AMD's is 35 watts.

The sockets differ: Intel uses Intel BGA 1449, AMD uses AMD Socket FP6. The memory support differs: Intel supports DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X, while AMD supports only DDR4. Both have dual-channel memory buses, but AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while Intel's is not recorded.

PCIe capabilities differ: Intel supports Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD supports Gen 3 with no lane count specified. The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, AMD uses Radeon Graphics 512SP.

Production status differs: Intel is end-of-life, AMD is active. Release dates differ: Intel was released on 2021-05-30, AMD on 2020-03-06. Intel has a launch MSRP of $426, AMD's is not recorded. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SRKSC for Intel and 100-000000099 for AMD.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. Intel's architecture is Tiger Lake, codename Tiger Lake-U, built on a 10 nm node at Intel's own foundry. AMD's architecture is Zen 2, codename Renoir, built on a 7 nm node at TSMC. This process advantage for AMD (7 nm versus 10 nm) is reflected in the transistor density: AMD packs 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, while Intel's die is 144 mm² with no recorded transistor count.

Cache structures differ significantly. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Intel's L3 is 50% larger in total, but AMD's per-core L2 is smaller, and its L3 is shared across twice as many cores. The Intel part has a generation label of Core i7 (Willow Cove-U), while AMD's is Ryzen 9 (Zen 2 (Renoir)).

The memory interfaces also differ architecturally. Intel supports LPDDR4 and LPDDR4X in addition to DDR4, which is relevant for low-power mobile designs. AMD is limited to DDR4, but it lists a specific memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure Intel does not provide. PCIe generation is another split: Intel offers Gen 4, AMD offers Gen 3. For storage and discrete GPU connectivity, Intel's Gen 4 support is a forward-looking feature, though it is limited to 16 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics architectures are distinct as well. Intel's Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 uses 96 execution units, a design tailored for its Tiger Lake platform. AMD's Radeon Graphics 512SP uses 512 shader processors, built on its Vega-class graphics architecture. Both are integrated, but their performance characteristics in graphics workloads are not recorded in this dataset. The core count difference (4 versus 8) is the most consequential architectural gap, and it carries through every multi-core benchmark result.